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THE PLAN BOOK SERIES 


A LITTLE JOURNEY 


TO 

ALASKA 


FOR INTERMEDIATE AND UPPER 
GRADES 


'N-V'>VK, E el J tin (Kingman 'H&X'-aJ 

MARIAN M. GEORGE 


CHICAGO 

A. FLANAGAN COMPANY 






flQ^ 


THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 
Two Copies Received 

MAY. 13 1901 



Copyright, 190 ], 

By A. FLANAGAN COMPANY 









A Little Journey to 
Alaska. 


^urs really begins to seem like a “.life on the ocean 
wave,” doesn’t it? What long and delightful voy¬ 
ages we have had! Instead of going to sea for a rest, 
as most people do, we really have had to leave the 
ocean for a change. What a happy voyage that was 
across the Pacific to Hawaii, and then to the Philip¬ 
pines and wonderful Japan and China! But do you 
remember how sick we all were when we crossed that 
choppy China Sea, and how, at first, we wished we 
were at home, and then we didn’t care whether we 
ever lived to get home? Now, being well rested, we 
may have forgotten all that. But, wouldn’t it be 
more than delightful to have a long ocean voyage, if 
we knew that every day on the steamer would be one 
of pleasure, and that no horrid sea-sickness would ever 
keep us in our cabins, and make us long for home? 
Then, let us pack our grips and start for that most 
wonderful of all our possessions, Alaska. 

You don’t want to go because it is so cold! Non¬ 
sense, let us take with us warm clothing, and we will 
probably be very comfortable, for Alaska is a big 
country, and we can see many of the wonderful things 
there without going to the coldest parts. 

Where is there another country in which we can see 
glaciers, icebergs, volcanoes, reindeer, sea-lions, seals, 




THE FOSTER GLACIER. 








A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


5 


sea-otters, whales, brown, black and polar bears, gold 
and silver mines, Eskimos and totem poles? 

Let us not delay, but make our preparations and 
start this month, as April is the opening of the season 
for tourists’ trips to the north. 

This little journey will be very unlike any we have 
taken. On every previous ocean voyage there have 
been many days when we could see no land, but on 
this trip, every hour will be full of interest. We will 
enjoy a constant change of scenery, people, and animal 
life. 

While we are making our preparations, let us take 
our maps, guide books and histories and learn all that 
we can of Alaska, for the more we know about the 
country, the more pleasure our visit will give us. 

LOCATION, SIZE, AND SURFACE. 

Look on your map of North America and you will 
see Alaska at the extreme northwestern point. It ex¬ 
tends from Point Barrow on the north to Dixon En¬ 
trance on the south. The cold Arctic Ocean borders 
it on the north and the broad Pacific Ocean on the 
west. See what a long broken coast line it has. It 
has a great many small islands and some large ones 
bordering it. The southeastern part is made up almost 
entirely of a great chain of islands. The southwestern 
part reaches out into the ocean for a great distance. 
It is like a long arm, ancf is called a peninsula. It 
ends in a line of rocky islands, becoming smaller and 
smaller, until at the extreme point they are very tiny. 
There are a great many places along the coast where 
the water reaches up into the land. These are called 
bays. 


6 


A TATTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 



























A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


7 


Alaska is a long ways from the United States, but 
very near to Russia. Only a narrow strip of water 
called Behring Strait separates it from Russia, which is 
a part of Asia. 

Alaska is a great country, as you will see. It is 
over 1000 miles long, luore than 700 miles wide, and 
has an area of 577,390 square miles. It is almost one- 
sixth as large as the United States and about seven- 
ninths as large as Mexico. Take your maps, compare 
them, and see for yourselves. 

The name Alaska means “great country” and comes 
from an Indian one, Alakshak. Don't you think it is 
a very appropriate name? A famous American, Mr. 



CHARLES SUMNER. W. H. SEWARD. 


Charles Sumner, had the honor of naming it, because 
he said a great deal to influence people to think of it 
as an important country. 

Let us look at our relief maps and learn about the 
surface of the land we are about to visit. It is what 
is called a plateau, that is, a high or elevated table 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


land or flat country with many mountains reaching 
still higher. 

The Cascade Range, which we see in the United 
States and Canada, extends along the coast of Alaska 
from the most southern point to the end of the long 
narrow peninsula. The slopes of many of the moun¬ 
tains are covered with immense glaciers. These are 
rivers of ice which flow slowly down the mountain side 
and plunge into the sea in the form of great icebergs as 
large or larger than a school house. We shall see these 
wonderful rivers of ice when we get to the far north. 

Many of the mountains are volcanoes, always burn¬ 
ing, but some are so quiet that the fires inside seem to 
have gone out. We shall see the greatest numbers of 
these burning mountains on that long, narrow penin¬ 
sula which points out into the Pacific Ocean. Some¬ 
times in this chain of islands, which is called the Aleu¬ 
tian, one volcano will form an entire island, while 
others slope to the sea with quite a bit of level coun¬ 
try between. 

What is that great river coming from the Rocky 
mountains in Canada, and flowing clear across Alaska 
into Behring Sea? It is the Yukon, one of the greatest 
rivers in North America. Our geographies tell us that 
it drains all of the great interior of Alaska, and that 
it is 2040 miles long. Wouldn't you like to float down 
its whole length on a raft as Lieut. Schwatka did a 
few years ago? Perhaps when we get there we may 
have a ride on the river, but we will probably have to 
ride on a steam boat. At any rate we must see this 
great river and learn all we can about it, for it has 
been but a few years since it was explored. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 9 

We now know something of the geography of this 
far away country which we will visit. It must be an 
interesting country, for hundreds of travelers go there 
every year. We eagerly get our histories and read 
everything we can find about the people, the climate 
and the products. 

HISTORY OF ALASKA. 

In studying the map of the United States, have you 
ever wondered why the map of Alaska was in one cor¬ 
ner? It is placed there because it is a part of our 
country. How did we get possession of it? We 
bought it and paid $7,200,000 for it. 

Why should we buy a country so far away? Be¬ 
cause it is a country of untold wealth. There is a great 
deal of money to be made there from the fur of seals 
and other animals, from the salmon which is canned 
and shipped to us, from the codfish, the whales, and 
gold mines. 

If we think that our country paid a great deal of 
money for it, what do we think when we read that our 
government has already received over $84,000,000.00 
from the industries of the country? We decide 
unanimously that it was a pretty good investment. 
Yet in 1867, when the purchase was made, many 
people in our states said that it was too much to pay. 
If we can do a little sum in arithmetic, we will find 
that Alaska did not cost our country quite two cents 
for one acre. That is a very small price compared 
with the cost of land about our homes. 

Now, has any one found out from what country we 
bought Alaska? It was Russia who sold it to us. 


10 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


Look on the map and you will see some queer old 
names of places. These, such as Baranoff, are Russian 
names, and sound very unlike ours. 

Many people who still thought that our government 
was extravagant called it “Seward’s Ice Box.” They 
did that because they did not believe in its great 
wealth and thought it was so cold that nothing good 
could ever come from there. When we get there we 
may be surprised to find it much less cold than we 
thought. 

Mr. William H. Seward was at the time of the pur¬ 
chase our Secretary of State and lived at the capital, 
Washington, as all of the presidents’ cabinets do. He 
was the means of getting our country to buy Alaska, 
and he kept persevering and talking about it until it 
was done. So the people made fun of him and nick¬ 
named the country, but everyone now thinks he was 
a very wise man, and honors his memory because the 
buying of Alaska has been a very profitable invest¬ 
ment for our country. 

Don’t you wish yomcould have been in Alaska when 
they had the great ceremony of Russia giving up the 
country to the United States? It was a day of excite¬ 
ment, and happened on October 18, 1867. There 
was a Russian flag floating from a flag staff on the old 
castle in Sitka. Look in your dictionaries and see the 
eagles on the yellow flag of the Czar, and find Sitka 
on your maps, for that is the first place to which we 
are going in Alaska. 

There were United States soldiers and Russian sol¬ 
diers lined up all about the castle. Three of our best 
warships lay in the harbor. The masts were gay with 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


11 


our national colors. There were speeches, marching, 
and firing of salutes. When the ceremony was over 
and the land was actually ours, the Stars and Stripes 
were hoisted to the top of the flag staff, and our ships 
thundered a salute with their great guns. 

The officers of the Russian government felt very 
badly when their flag was pulled down and ours was 
run up; but the Americans who were there treated 
them very courteously, and in return they felt very 
kindly toward us. 

Now that we know something of the history of the 
country, we must inquire about the climate, for, in 
making our preparations for the trip, we must know 
how to dress ourselves comfortably and properly. 

CLIMATE. 

We must not think of Alaska as a cold, bleak coun¬ 
try, where plants, animals and people cannot live. 

A traveler, whose home is in Boston, but who spent 
a winter in Alaska, says that Sitka has a milder climate 
in winter than Boston. Such a statement would surprise 
most people, but, when we crossed the Pacific Ocean 
to the Philippines, we noticed a great warm river in 
the ocean called the Japan Current. This flows in a 
circle rather near to the western coast of North Amer¬ 
ica, and makes a great difference in the climate as 
far north as the Yukon River. The coast of Alaska 
would probably be very cold were it not for this, but 
on account of its influence, people may live in these 
regions in comfort. When we visit there, the effect 
of this on the plant life will give us many surprises. 

Instead of seeing a cold, frozen country, we shall 
see the coast all along our course green with vegeta- 


12 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


tion. True, we shall also see snow, and the glaciers 
pouring their volumes of ice into the ocean. 

There is much rain in Alaska, especially along the 
coast. We would hardly know what to make of a rain 
that lasts for days, and sometimes for two and three 
weeks at a time, but their rains are warm and soft, 
and are less disagreeable. 

In the interior the air is drier and they do not have 
so much rain; but, when it does come down, the fierce 
thunder and lightning which often goes with it is ter¬ 
rible. 

The greater part of Alaska is very cold—that is in 
the northern part and in the vast interior, although in 
the latter the climate varies so much that often the 
summer heat is intense. We would probably think so 
if we could see the swarms of huge mosquitoes which 
flourish there in that season. 

Instead of the seasons gradually changing, as they 
do here, the cold winter follows quickly after summer. 

The very pleasantest time of the year is June and 
July. Then the sun shines most in the long days of 
summer, which only lasts four months. 

The eight months of winter which follow do not 
have the long daylight that we have, and for seventy 
days they have no daylight at all except a glow in the 
sky. Such an appearance in the heavens is called the 
“northern lights.” 

It is well that we know something of the climate 
before we start, for we will need to take our rain coats, 
umbrellas, and warm clothing for the cold, damp 
nights. A heavy steamer rug will be very necessary 
for our comfort on deck. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


13 



THE OVERLAND TRIP. 

Seattle being the port from which we start on our 
sea voyage, let us take our maps and select our route 
to the coast. 

As Chicago is a convenient starting place, we notice 
the lines connecting it with Seattle. Let us go by the 
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul to Minneapolis and 
the Great Northern from Minneapolis to Seattle, for 
these lines are known for their safety and prompt 
service. 

We board the handsome vestibuled train standing in 
the depot ready for the trip across America. We find 
the train to be a fine example of comfort, convenience 
and luxury. 

The library is particularly attractive, for here may 
be found all of the latest magazines, daily papers, and 


MINNEHAHA FALLS. 
(Between St. Paul and Minneapolis.) 



14 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


about two hundred well selected books. Writing desks 
and tables stand invitingly about, and the massive 
plate glass windows furnish the pleasure of all the pass¬ 
ing scenery. It is a luxuriously furnished car. 

The elegant coach in which we are comfortably set¬ 
tled, is beautiful in design and coloring, and has every 
convenience for the promise of a most delightful over¬ 
land trip. 

One day out from Chicago, and we are rushing into 
St. Paul, onward in plain sight of the Falls of St. 
Anthony, and the largest flouring mills in the world. 
Now we are getting our first glimpse of the Mississippi 
River, and crossing it, steam into Minneapolis. On¬ 
ward we go, leaving Minnesota behind, and entering 
the land of the Dakotas. 

The Great Northern is taking us through a country 
of magnificent scenery. We cross no deserts or sandy 
wastes. In turn we will follow the three great rivers 
of our continent, the Mississippi, the Missouri and the 
Columbia. In fact we are crossing, in the most luxuri¬ 
ous manner, the most beautiful country between the 
Great Lakes and Puget Sound. 

Still westward, climbing the Rocky Mountains in 
Montana in full view of imposing scenery. The track 
on ledges of solid rock winds around huge peaks with 
startling suddenness. 

We have but to cross the state of Washington and 
our overland journey will be ended. Far below we can 
see the beautiful blue Columbia River, hazy and dim 
from our height. To get to the plain below we de¬ 
scend in great horse shoe curves, swinging across one 
steel trestle after another. Finally the river is reached. 



SNOWQUALMIE FALLS IN WASHINGTON. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 15 









16 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


What are those im¬ 
mense rafts coming 
down the stream ? 
We look again and 
see that they are 
vast logs making 
their way to saw 
mills. 

In Washington we 
see everywhere evidences of the lumber industry. 
Giant firs and cedars keep the numerous shingle and 
saw mills busy. 

Now we steam into Seattle and at once seek our 
boat to get settled for the long voyage. But let us 
keep our eyes open and see what we can of this busy 
city from our carriage window. 

Seattle seems toT>e*a hustling western city. Every 
person walks with a quick step, going about his busi¬ 
ness. As we ride along we see\rpw§ of, fine* modern 
business blocks lining the streets. Someone tells us it 
is called the “Queen City of the West.” 

Seattle is located on Puget Sound. It is called a 
sound because its waters are shallower than the ocean 
and their depth can be quite easily told with a sounding 
line. The Sound is so nearly surrounded by land that 
it is called “land-locked,” and this is what makes it 
such a fine harbor. The waves of the ocean cannot 
rush in and make it rough. 

The harbor is full of ships, some unloading, some 
coming slowly in. See that great ship being piled 
full of lumber to be shipped to some foreign country. 
There is one unloading tons and tons of coal. Here 



A LOGGING TEAM. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 


17 



HARBOR OF SEATTLE. 






























18 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


is a ship which is going to swing up to the wharf. It 
must be a freight ship, for* we can see boxes and 
boxes piled high. What is in them? Let us look 
closer. They are all marked “Alaska Salmon.” The 
hold of the ship contains more boxes and barrels. 
Safely stowed away from dampness are hundreds of 
furs packed in salt to be preserved till they reach the 
end of their journey. At Seattle they will be unloaded, 
shipped to New York and then to London to be pre- ! 
pared, dyed and ready to be made into cloaks and 
other garments. These furs, too, have come from 
Alaska, and if we could open the barrels we would find 
seal, otter, fox, mink, bear, and beaver furs. The ship 
has also a quantity of whalebone on board. 

Here comes a boat loaded with passengers on deck 
ready to land the first moment the gang plank is 
lowered. Let us look at their faces and see what we 
can tell of them. Some look very happy and eager. 
Probably they are returning from the gold fields with I 
precious nuggets, or perhaps bags of gold dust they 
have washed from the beach or the rivers. Some are 
returning with fortunes. Some have a look of disap- ! 
pointment. They, too, may have been to Alaska in 
search of gold, and were not so fortunate. The gold 
is there, but many men have spent all they had and 
then found nothing. 

THE VOYAGE. 

Suddenly there is a long blow of the whistle and we \ 
hurry on board. The whistle sounds again, the ropes S 
are cast off, the gang plank is pulled in and we are | 
sailing up the waters of the Sound. 

After a short run we put into Port Townsend. Our 




A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 19 

captain reports his passengers and cargo to the govern¬ 
ment officials. He gets his “clearing papers” or per¬ 
mission to leave the port, and now we are really and 
truly off for Alaska. 

To go to Alaska we do not go out upon the broad 
ocean at all, that is if we go to the places tourists 
usually do. The first city we intend to visit is the 
old capital, Sitka. Tracing the route of the northern 
steamers, we see that all the way, our ship steams 
between the coast and the islands that border it. That 
is the reason travelers to Sitka are never seasick. The 
big waves of the ocean are kept out, and the narrow 
passages of water on which our voyage is made are, 
with one or two exceptions, very quiet. About half 
way to Sitka is a passage called Seymour Narrows, 
where the tides come in at both ends and meet. At 
high tide the current is very strong, and the captain 
has to be very watchful and enter when the tide is 
going out, or his ship will be caught in the whirling 
waters and wrecked. 

Ships do not go direct to Sitka, but by way of 
Juneau and Skagway, two important cities to be visited 
later on. This takes us quite a ways north of Sitka, 
and the ship has to turn back and go around the 
southern point of Baranoff Island, on which Sitka is 
located, before reaching the port. 

Our course takes us past some of the most magni¬ 
ficent scenery in the world. We see high snow-capped 
mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers. The views are 
wild and picturesque. We see several Indian villages. 
As we go farther north, the days get longer, and the 
nights shorter. At nine o’clock without lights we can 
see quite easily to read. 


20 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



ALASKA’S CAPITAL. 

(The Old Russian Settlement at Sitka.) 

Photograph by W H. Partridge. Published by courtesy of the Ladies Home Journal. 

Copyright 1901 by the Curtis Publishing Company. 

After a voyage of over 1300 miles we sail into one 
of the prettiest hays to be seen on this or any other 
continent. The loud whistle of our steamer has told 
of our coming long before we reach the wharf, and the 
welcome tidings of “steamer day” is brought to the 
inhabitants of the old town, all of which seem to be 
down to the shore to greet us. All are eager for news 
from home, as they call the United States, and wait 
anxiously for their letters. 

SITKA. 

Many Indians are standing about the wharf, and as 
they have a large settlement here, they have wandered 
down to the boat to satisfy their curiosity. 

We have but a day to spend in Sitka, as there is no 
provision in the town for large parties of tourists. We 
leave our baggage on the boat, and start out for a day 
of sight seeing. 




A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 




v. 


INDIANS GREEK CHURCH. 

TOTEMS. * A UK INDIAN GRAVES. 

































22 A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 

Lincoln, the one street of Sitka, leads from the 
wharf into the town. At the head of the street, and 
but a short distance away, is the famous old Greek 
church. It is the most prominent building in the 
town and we make our first visit there. 

The great blue dome, and peculiar spire shaped like 
a slender bulb, can be seen from all parts of the town, 
and from the bay as the boat comes in. 

It is a wooden building one story high. The outside is 
plain, but the inside is very costly and beautiful. It was 
built in the old days of the Russian government, as all 



INTERIOR OP GREEK CHURCH. 

of that nationality who were here worshipped in this 
quaint little building. The Russians who are still 
here, and many of the Indians, attend this church. 
It contains many beautiful Bible pictures, framed in 
massive gold and silver. The altar decorations are 
very costly, and bright with gold trimmings. 

The chime of bells which calls to service is a wel¬ 
come sound in the quiet, sleepy old town. 

Let us now go and visit the ruins of the old castle. 









A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


23 


From there we can see over the whole town and off 
into the bay. We understand from the location 
why the Russian governors chose this site for their 
castle long years ago. It was called Baranoff Castle 
in honor of one of the first governors. It was built in 
1813 of huge logs, and furnished with beautiful things 
brought from Russia. It must have been of great 
historical interest, for in 1892 our government paid 
$11,000 to have it repaired. Very soon afterward it 
caught fire and was partially destroyed. 

It was the scene of many gay parties in the old Rus¬ 
sian days, and many stories are told of the festivities 
there. The Russian officers also had a great deal of 
company and gave many banquets in the immense 
dining room, which extended the whole length of the 
mansion. 

Although Sitka has been the capital of Alaska for 
many years, it has been decided to move the seat of 
government to Juneau as soon as suitable buildings 
can be erected. The city of Juneau has direct com¬ 
munication with all of the industries of the country. It 
is easy to reach by steamer and is close to the mining 
districts of the interior. 

The population of Sitka consists of Americans and a 
tribe of Indians called Thlinkets, or, as they prefer to 
be called, Alaskans. There are now about two hundred 
of the white population, and over a thousand Indians. 

We find all nations represented among the white 
population, but most of the people are Americans. 
They live in rather small but comfortable houses, very 
plainly built, but patterned after their former homes 
in the United States. They are people of culture 


24 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 



INDIAN MERCHANTS. 

































































































































































































































































































































































































































































A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


25 


and refinement, and have had all of the best advan¬ 
tages of education and travel. Some have come to 
Alaska to fill government positions, some for commer¬ 
cial and trading purposes, and some through large 
mining interests. They like the country so well that 
they have decided to make their homes here always. 
They have taken with them fine libraries, handsome 
furniture, and dainty bric-a-brac, and their homes 
have an air of luxury which we are surprised to find. 
Their cordiality is charming, and the hospitality of 
many of their cozy homes is enjoyed by us in our 
short visit. 

The Indians of Sitka live to the west of the town. 
They come over to the white settlement to church, to 
school, and to sell the fancy articles which they make, 
such as hammered silverware, basket work and curios. 
With their money they make purchases of clothing, 
groceries, and—molasses. Wouldn t it seem queer if, 
at our homes, we had to get permission from an officer 
before we could buy molasses? Yet, that is what the 
Indians of Sitka have to do, and they are then allowed 
to get only a small quantity. If they could get all of 
the molasses they wanted, they would get drunk. 
“Drunk on molasses!” you exclaim. Yes, they mix 
it with water and some other ingredients, and let it 
ferment. It makes the vilest drink you can imagine. 
They think it is delicious and call it “hoochinoo. 
We overheard one old Indian say to the merchant. 
“ Plenty molasses, plenty hoochinoo, plenty drunk, 
no molasses, no hoochinoo, no diunk. 

We are sorry to say that they have learned this 
terrible habit from unscrupulous traders among the 




26 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



INDIAN CHIEF. 


lage. Let us follow them to their 
in what is termed “the ranche.’’ 


whites. Our 
government is 
very strict, and 
tries to keep 
liquor entirely 
out of thei r 
reach. It makes 
them like mad¬ 
men to get a 
drink. The wo¬ 
men are as bad 
in this respect 
as the men, and 
if liquor was at 
hand they would 
pay any price to 
get it. 

Here is a party 
of Indians who 
are leaving the 
store. They 
have finished 
their trading 
and are return¬ 
ing to their vil- 
homes, which are 


What are those queer-looking objects looming up in 
front of some of the houses? They look like great, 
thick telephone poles, only not so tall. They are curi¬ 
ously carved from bottom to top. Let us get close to 
them and examine the carving. 







TOTEM POLES, ALASKA, 


(27) 





























































































































































































































































28 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



Perhaps we can find out about them from that 
wrinkled faced old Thlinket sitting near them. We 
ask her, and she says “Totems! Totems!” 

We learn from her that many years ago every Indian 
family who had any wealth had one of these in front 
of his door. The more riches he owned the higher he 
erected his totem. Then, too, the carvings tell the 


ALASKA INDIANS. 










A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


29 


history of the family. They had as great a pride in 
the totems as some people do in their coat-of-arms or 
crests. 

The carving cannot be called anything but gro¬ 
tesque. Sometimes these figures are persons, animals 
or footprints. They are always topped by a huge fig¬ 
ure of an animal or of a person’s head. If a head, 
it may be covered by a hat, so old-fashioned in shape 
as to have been worn about four hundred years ago. 
The eyes glare savagely at us, but they cannot hurt 
us. 

Some of the Indians spend much of their time in 
the winter carving small totem poles to sell to tourists 
during the summer season. They would not part with 
those in front of their doors. They are no more will¬ 
ing to do that than we are to part with a precious 
family heirloom. But the custom of totems is passing 
away with the growing up of the young people, who 
want to do things like the Americans in every way. 

The finest totem poles in Alaska are not here in 
Sitka, but at old Fort Wrangell, which we passed 
on our voyage. If we keep a close watch, on our re¬ 
turn voyage we may see them from the boat. 

Their homes are ordinary frame houses one and 
two stories in height, facing the street, and put up 
with regularity. These houses are homely, but they are 
comfortable, and most of them well furnished. They 
have tables, chairs, bedroom sets, lamps and mirrors. 
They have bought these from naval officers or govern¬ 
ment officials, who, on going away, sold their house¬ 
hold goods. One of the Indians owns the finest side¬ 
board in Sitka. His family use it for a cupboard and 
clothes press. 


30 A LITTLL JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 

We find most of the houses partitioned off into 
rooms, but when the missionaries first went there 
scarcely any family had more than one room. 

Their houses are all white-washed outside and inside 
for the sake of cleanliness At first, the government 
officials had to force the Indians to do this, by fining 
them if they did not. An Indian thinks a fine is a 
most terrible punishment. He doesn’t mind being 
locked up, but he does hate to part with his money. 

The Alaskan Indians are not noted for their natural 
cleanliness, but their condition is continually improv- | 
ing. This has been brought about by the tidy habits 
the children have formed in school. We will visit the 
mission schools \yhen we return to the other part of 
the town, for, you remember, they are located down 
by the beach on that pretty road. 

The Indians dress “United States fashion,” as they 
call it. In every thing they want to pattern after our 
country. It has been a great help to their condition 
that they have such a pride. 

Formerly they dressed in blankets. Some of the 
wealthiest wore beautiful blankets, for which they ! 
often traded articles which to them were worth large 
sums. They still own blankets, but use them in orna¬ 
mentation rather than as necessary clothing. 

The beautiful blankets are the Chilkat, made by a : 
tribe by that name. These Indians live some distance I 
farther north. They are the weavers of Alaska. The 
blankets which they make are from the wool of moun¬ 
tain goats. They dye the wool brilliant colors and 
weave them into fancy designs. The borders are rich 
and heavy and finished on one side by a deep fringe 
almost as wide as the blanket itself. 




A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


31 


These they still wear at all public ceremonies, and 
feel very aristocratic in their handsome costumes. 
When we try to buy one and find that many of them 
bring $100, we do not wonder that they are proud of 
them. 

The pride in blankets is peculiar, not only to the 
Sitkans, but to all of the Indian tribes of Alaska, ex¬ 
cept the Eskimo of the far north. We will visit him 
later and see also how he lives and dresses. 

The Alaskan Indians marry now the same as all 
other civilized people do. The missionary often per¬ 
forms the ceremony. Sometimes it is the Russian 
priest. 

The young people who have had a good chance in 
the mission schools, make very happy homes, and take 
with them customs which help to improve the habits 
of their parents. 

Formerly, marriage was looked upon as a trade, and 
the trade was nearly always made with blankets. 
Sometimes the bridegroom had to give as many as a 
hundred blankets to get his bride. Then the father of 
the bride was required to give in return to the family 
of the bridegroom, a present worth at least half as 
much as the blankets. 

The girl had to remain in seclusion for months before 
her marriage, often fasting for several days at a time. 
During this long period she always worked industri¬ 
ously making baskets, blankets, or bead moccasins. 

At the ceremony the relatives and friends assembled. 
The bride was dressed in a gay blanket. The cere¬ 
mony consisted of presents, a feast, and speech mak¬ 
ing, but you must remember that the bridegroom was 


32 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


not there. After the guests were all gone, he was sent 
for. He came, and was always dressed in his oldest 
blanket. His bride then presented him with a hand¬ 
some new one. He smoked for ten minutes in silence, 
and then the couple left for their new home. 

The Alaskan Indian women have always been treated 
with much more kindness than those of any of the other 
native tribes. They are shown no special affection, 
but a great deal of respect. The women are consulted 
in business, and many of them take care of the money 
for the family. 

They are said to be very shrewd in making trades, 
and when much is at stake, the men generally leave 
the women to finish the bargains. 

These Indians are a social people, and in the course 
of our walk about their village, they invite us to a 
dance in the evening. This promises to be something 
unusual, and with much anticipation we accept. 

Probably nowhere in our travels will we see such 
absurd performances. Their manner of dancing differs 
from that of any we have ever seen. As a rule they 
plant their feet firmly on the floor, and with their 
knees slightly bent, sway about in a ridiculous way. 
Once in a while they bound forward or turn with a 
sudden jerk. The men are much more violent in their 
movements than the women. 

The part which attracts us most is their dress. 
Their handsomest blankets are worn. This gives us 
an opportunity to see some of those famous and costly 
Chilkat blankets. They also adorn their heads with 
queer, looking hats. Some of them are cone shaped 
and made of woven bark and roots. Some of the hats 








A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 33 

are trimmed with ermine skins. Some of them wear 
curiously shaped and painted masks. If they do not 
wear masks they paint their faces with black and red 
stripes. Each dancer is dressed as gorgeously as his 
means will afford. Many carry whistles, rattles or 
drums, and make all the noise they can. In a Sitkan 
dance, the more din and uproar, the finer the dance is 
supposed to be. 

If their dances are so amusing, what must their 
theatres be? Yet, it is said that they get up theatri¬ 
cals of a most entertaining nature. Each one tries to 
represent himself in dress and actions as a certain 
character. “The Evil Spirit,” “Summer,” “Whale 
Killer,” “Halibut,” “Bear,” or “Mt. St. Elias,” are 
some of the favorite impersonations. 

They creep, hop, bend, spin around like a top, or do 
any movement to represent their part. Each during 
his performance sings a song. And what wild, weird 
singing! They start in the highest key they can reach, 
and drop suddenly to the lowest. It is almost impos¬ 
sible for a white man to learn one of their tunes. Yet 
they are very fond of music. 

The women have a song called “The Berry Pickers.” 
When they are berrying they sing this to scare away 
the bears. It is a wonder that it doesn’t scare all of 
the game out of the country. 

CHILD LIFE. 

One of the first things we notice in “the ranche” 
is the large number of happy children playing 
about. 

The little Thlinkets enjoy themselves playing out of 
doors from morning to night. Rain or shine, it is all 


34 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


the same. On rainy days they can play in the mud 
puddles, and on sunny days they can play in the 
sand. 



INDIAN BABIES. 
Pappoose. 


The babies are much loved, and tenderly treated. 
Their little bodies are rubbed and rubbed with 
oil, and they are wrapped in soft mosses and 
blankets. 

They play about the door step when they are old 
enough to toddle, fall down and cry, get under peo¬ 
ple's feet, and eat bread and sugar just the same as 










A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


35 


their little white brothers in the other part of the 
town do. 

When they are older they cram their little stomachs 
with wild berries, which grow here so plentifully. 
They go down to the beach in their bare feet and wade 
about, floating little chips for boats and playing “be a 
fisherman/’ 

Probably the boys don’t have any more fun than the 
girls. The boys play ball and tag, and the girls dress 
their dolls. They often make their own, and they love 
them none the less because their heads are made out 
of smooth pebbles. 

They play many very happy games and get much 
fun out of the guessing ones, of which there are many. 
We learn one which is called the game of “Ha-goo.” 

Do you want to know how to play it? You can’t 
play unless you keep a sober face. See if you can do it. 

Choose sides and name a leader. Both sides form 
in line facing each other. The leader goes forward 
carrying a stick with a bright rag floating from it. A 
little girl from the opposite side comes to meet him, 
and carry off the banner. She must keep a sober face, 
while all on the opposite side laugh, and make faces, 
and comical speeches. If she smiles, she is “out,” and 
can’t play. This is kept up until one only is left. He 
is the victor, and his side wins the game. 

While the children are young they must begin to 
work, because they expect to have homes of their own 
and must learn how to provide for their families. 

The boys are taught many things in school, but out¬ 
side they learn to fish and hunt. They learn to skill¬ 
fully manage a canoe even in the stormiest weather. 


36 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



INDIAN BOY. 

The girls learn how to keep house, and clean and 
cook the game which their brothers bring home. They 
pick berries and dry them for winter, and also learn to 
sew and embroider. When a little girl has learned how 
to do all of these things well, she has a party. The boys 
are invited with the girls. The little hostess must 
cook everything which they have for their feast. After 
they eat they go down to the beach and have a great 
frolic. After all, it isn’t so bad to be a little Indian 
boy or girl. Is it? 

THE MISSION SCHOOLS. 

When the Russians owned the country they had 
schools for the whites, but none for the Indians. After 
the United States bought Alaska the schools were 








A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


37 


forgotten for eleven years. It was through the efforts 
of the missionaries that they were reopened. 

When they first came to Alaska from our country, 
they found the Indians in a very different condition 
from which we see them. They had their superstitious 
belief in the “evil spirit,” and such a thing as going 
to church never entered their heads. They spent 
their Sundays the same as any other day, in hunting 
and fishing. Some spent their time carving and some 
in drinking and rioting. It looked rather hopeless to 
get such people to church. How do you suppose it 
was done? By asking them? No. The plan of the 
missionaries was a beautiful one. 

They secured some old Russian barracks. They 
were nearly falling to pieces, but it was the best they 
could do. They gathered there one Sabbath morning 
and began to sing the Moody and Sankey hymns. 
They had purposely left the door open, and soon the 
Indians began to gather about. No one noticed them, 
and so they stole in one by one. They were charmed 
with the music. In a short time there were one 
hundred and fifty Indians seated on the floor in front 
of the singers. What a queer looking congregation 
they must have been! They were dressed in blankets, 
and many of their faces were painted black and red. 

The missionaries talked to them, but of course 
they could not have understood a word, if it had not 
been interpreted for them by a kind Russian. They 
sang more songs, and then told more Bible stories. 
The service lasted for hours, and the Indians sat, 
listening quietly. 

These Indians told the others, and the next Sunday 


38 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


there were many more, but talking was very difficult 
because the Indians could not understand, The 
Indians were so interested that they wanted to learn 
to speak English, and so the first plans were made for 
a mission school. 

When the first school was started, how do you sup¬ 
pose it looked? Do you think it was in a pretty, neat 
little school house? It was in one room of an old 
rickety building. Fifty Indian men, women, and 
children were at the door the first morning, curious 
and eager to see what would be done. 

Let us see how the school room was furnished. 
There were no desks. Two tables were all that could 
be supplied. There were twenty benches, a stove, 
two brooms, one box of chalk, and an old, warped 
piece of blackboard which a kind priest loaned them. 

What did they do for books? Among all the white 
people there were found only six primers. These six 
books had to be used for fifty people, but the earnest 
teacher knew how to manage. He taught them from 
the old blackboard, and they learned so well that in 
one month thirteen could read in the primers, and 
twenty-five knew all of the letters. 

The school grew every day and in a short time the 
teacher had three hundred pupils. Think of one 
teacher with three hundred pupils! But after a while 
he had some help and then they learned still faster. 

These Indians, many of them grown up men and 
women, had never been to school before, and they had 
many bad habits. One of them was— tardiness. They 
would straggle in at all hours in the morning, and the 
teacher was very much troubled by it. Finally he 



A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


39 


broke them of it. How do you suppose he did it? 
You never can guess, so we must tell you. 

The Indians were happier in learning to write than 
in doing anything else. They could not bear to miss 
one minute of this delightful lesson. So the teacher 
had the writing lesson the very first thing in the 
morning, and you may be sure that the Indians hur¬ 
ried around to be there on time. In this way they 
were completely broken of the habit. 

The most interesting part of their school life was the 
founding of the industrial schools. The nicest story 
of all is that these large, white, neatly painted school 
buildings came about through the children’s eagerness 
to live in a cozy home, and learn from the pretty 
books. 

We must not forget that only a few years ago in 
“the ranche” the houses were dirty, and many lived 
in one house, which probably had but one room. The 
boys thought the old school room so delightful, so 
neat and attractive, that they begged to stay there 
all of the time. They did not want to go back to the 
crowded, noisy homes at night. They said they would 
take care of themselves, hunt their own food, sleep on 
the floor in their blankets, and jump about if they 
were cold. So they were allowed to do so. 

The boys kept their promises. They washed in the 
ocean, and used a piece of tin for a looking glass. 
They caught salmon enough so it could be packed for 
winter food. They made little gardens about the 
school and grew potatoes and cabbages. They also 
made curios which were sent down to the United 
States and sold. This money bought them clothes 
and books. 




40 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


When the people of our great, rich country realized 
how these neglected children were trying to help them¬ 
selves, they sent them money for a school building. 
They also sent them an organ, a bell, a cook stove, 
and quite a number of little beds to furnish a dormi¬ 
tory for the boys. 

The boys were now perfectly happy; but one day 
the building caught fire. If we only could have seen 
them then! They never thought of themselves or 
their own little belongings, but rushed about trying to 
save their teacher’s things. One boy dashed through 
the fire crying: “I will save my teacher’s furniture if 
I die in the flames. I am not afraid to die!” 

When they could do no more, they stood about and 
wept. Yes, the grown up Indian men actually cried 
when they saw the beloved school in ruins. 

But now the best thing of all happened to them. 
The missionaries secured enough money to build a 
larger, handsomer building than before, and furnish it 
completely. Since then, more buildings have been 
put up, a separate one for the girls, and a shop where 
the boys can learn all of the trades. The girls learn 
to sew and to keep house, and these children have so 
much pride in doing things well, that upon leaving 
school they take all of that beautiful way into their 
parents’ homes, and that is what has made this Indian 
city known for its thrift and industry. 

The Presbyterian Board of Missions has worked 
faithfully all of these years to help their founder, Dr. 
Sheldon Jackson, to improve the condition of the 
natives. They have secured the help of our govern¬ 
ment, and the school and church advantages are 
growing better all of the time. 




A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 


41 



SUNSET AT SITKA, ALASKA 















42 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


There are two other large mission schools in Alaska 
and several smaller ones widely scattered. One at New 
Metlakahtla, passed on our voyage, and founded Mr. 
William Duncan. He went alone, the only white man 
among them, and taught them in books, and how to 
live. It is now a fine village of intelligent, industrious 
natives of the Haida tribe. There is also a large and 
flourishing mission for the Tinnehs of the interior, at 
Koserefski, on the Yukon River. This is supported by 
the Catholic church. 

Before leaving the mission grounds, let us step into 
Jackson Museum, named for the founder of the schools. 
It is fitted up like the home of a native chief, with a 
totem pole at the entrance. Inside we see a large col¬ 
lection of interesting specimens. These were collected 
from all parts of Alaska, and give us a good idea of 
the products of the country. Many of them were 
gathered by Dr. Jackson in his travels about all parts 
of the territory. 

We have visited all of the interesting points in 
Sitka, and have learned much of the people of Alaska, 
but Sitka is not all of this great country, and we must 
be moving on to the largest city in Alaska, and its 
capital, Juneau. 

JUNEAU, THE LARGEST CITY IN ALASKA. 

The trip from Sitka to Juneau is made through 
narrow, rocky passages, one so dangerous as to be 
called Peril Strait. 

Let us look at our maps. We find Juneau quite a 
little north and east of Sitka. It is situated on the 
mainland of North America. 

We steam into Juneau, but before we get to the 
wharf let us notice the situation. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


43 



Photograph by W. H. Partridge. Copyright by Ladies' Home Journal. 

A FAMOUS ALASKAN MINING CENTRE—THE TOWN OF JUNEAU. 

Tall, dark mountains rise behind it. It seems to 
snuggle at the base, and the buildings are so thick 
that they look as though they would be pushed out 
into the bay. 

The whole town apparently is down to meet the 
boat. “Steamer day” is looked for as eagerly here as 
in Sitka. 

Juneau is quite a city. It has a population of 
twenty-five hundred people, besides the settlement of 
Auk Indians on its outskirts. 

It is a modern city having fine water works, and 
electric lights. 

Juneau is not so old a town as Sitka, but it has 
grown fast, because it was, for a time, the place where 
most of the Klondike miners purchased their supplies. 
Now there is a town still nearer to the mining district, 
ind Juneau will not continue to grow as fast. But it 
is a thriving city, and the people all go about with an 
lir of business. 




44 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



The homes are put up for comfort. They are very 
plain, and the streets are few. 

THE AUK INDIANS. 

The Indian suburb of Juneau is not reached by a 


AUK INDIAN CAMP. 

street. If we visit that we will have to go up the bay 
about one-half mile. Here are some Indian canoes. 
Let us get in and be rowed to the settlement. 

We do not find the Auk Indians as far advanced as 
those of Sitka. Soap is an unknown thing to them. 
Instead of it they use oil. Every day they rub on a 
fresh coat of grease. You can imagine that they are 
not very attractive. 

The most interesting place to visit in their village is 
the cemetery. Instead of following the custom of the 







A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 45 

United States as the Sitkan Indians do, the Auks cre¬ 
mate the bodies of their dead, and place the ashes in 
small log huts. On each hut is a hideous, carved 
figure, with glaring eyes and open mouth. (See p. 21.) 

It is a good thing that the Auks burn their dead, 
for on account of their unclean habits, it makes them 
less liable to disease. When the missionaries can get 


to work among them, we will see a great change in this 
primitive settlement. 

Back to Juneau we are rowed in the canoes, but 


SILVER BOW CANON, JUNEAU. 




46 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


before leaving, we follow a wild, picturesque road lead¬ 
ing back from the town to the Silver Bow Mines. 
These mines furnish large quantities of silver. 

We have had a glimpse of Juneau, and must hurry 
on to the next city, which is Skagway. “How do we 
go?” you ask. Still by boat. “Aren’t we ever going 
by railroad?” There is only one railroad in all Alaska. 
We shall soon be at Skagway, and then we will know 
about it. 

PASSING THE FAMOUS TREADWELL GOLD MINE. 

Juneau is left behind. Our boat is headed north 
for the town of Skagway. As we go around the south 
point of Douglas Island we can see the buildings of 
the famous Treadwell gold mines. The reason that we 



Copyright by A. C. Pillsbury. From Ladies’ Home Journal, by courtesy of the Publishers- 

VIEW FROM MOUNT DEWEY, SHOWING SKAGWAY AND THE LYNN CANAL. 









A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 47 

notice this is because all about the buildings and the 
sides of the mountains the trees are bleached almost 
white from the fumes of the smoke rising from the 
works which are in operation day and night. 

The owners of this great gold mine have refused to 
sell it for $ 16 , 000 , 000 . 

It is an easy mine to work. Instead of sinking 
shafts they tunnel into the side of the mountain. 

You must not think‘that this is the place where all 
of the miners rushed during the gold fever in Alaska. 
The land about this mine is all owned, and gold seekers 
nearly always search for unclaimed spots. Then all of 
the gold they get from the ground is theirs. 

SKA GWAY, THE STARTING POINT FOR THE KLONDIKE. 

Sixty miles of sailing northward, and we are at Skag- 
way beach. Let us take our maps and see the loca¬ 
tion. The city is at the head of Lynn Canal on an 
inlet called Chilcoot. Across the canal on the opposite 
side is Chilcat, where the beautiful blankets are made. 
The town is full of life. The population is four thou¬ 
sand, and all of these people have come here through 
their interest in the gold fields. We have come by the 
very route we would if we were seeking our fortunes. 

The houses of Skagway have been hurriedly built to 
accommodate the increasing population. 

Hundreds of people are getting their supplies packed 
ready to leave for the interior. It is only within a 
year that there was any comfortable way to go. 
Miners had to hire Indians to carry their belongings 
over the mountains, either on their backs or on sleds. 
Sometimes they were too poor to hire them, and had 
to do it themselves. Terrible storms would sometimes 


48 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



set in, and they would have to make a hut in the 
snow and stay for a week, living on dry flour and bacon. 

Here is a crowd of men all ready for the journey. 
Let us get a miner to open his pack so that we may 
peep in and see the contents. 

What a load of provisions! Flour, bacon, baking 
powder, beans, dried fruit, desiccated vegetables, butter, 
sugar, condensed milk, tea, coffee, salt, pepper, mus¬ 
tard, matches, cooking utensils, dishes, a sheet iron 


YUKONER AND STICK INDIANS PASSING THROUGH CANYON DYEA. 

stove, woolen and rubber blankets, oilskin bags, tools 
for boat building, rubber boots, snow glasses, medi¬ 
cines, and mosquito netting. 

Think of packing such a load over the mountains, 
wading through deep snow, in the face of cold and 
storms. 




A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


49 


THE FIRST AND ONLY RAILROAD IN ALASKA. 

On account of these hardships, recently a railroad 
has been completed, which makes it easier to make the 
journey. 

We are surprised to learn that this railroad is only 
one hundred and eleven miles long, and the only one 
in Alaska. It is called the White Pass and Yukon 
Railroad, and extends from Skagway on the coast, back 
to White Horse. From there the gold seekers go by 
several rivers and small lakes to the Klondike region, 
which is in the far north. It is a difficult journey to 
take, even with the advantage of the- new railroad over 
Chilcoot Pass. 

THE KLONDIKE GOLD REGION. 

Let us again take our maps and find just where the 
rich gold fields of the Klondike are located. First 
find the great Yukon River just over the boundary of 
Alaska in Canada. Look where the line 64° north 
latitude crosses 140° west longitude. It is about here 
that the Klondike River joins the Yukon, and along 
that river and in the mountains are the Klondike gold 
fields. 

Dawson City, of which so much was written in the 
papers, is at the mouth of the river. It sprung up 
like a mushroom in 1897, when gold seekers began to 
rush to the north. 

The mining of the Klondike is placer mining. Do 
you know what that is? A miner takes his pick, 
shovel and pan and goes, sometimes all alone, digging 
and picking in the creeks and rivers. He lifts up a 
pan of sand and looks anxiously for the glistening 


50 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


grains of gold. He rinses and rinses the sand. By 
skillful dipping he finally gets all of the sand out and J 
has only the gold in the bottom of the pan. Some¬ 
times he will find flakes as big as a pumpkin seed. 
Such are worth from three to ten dollars apiece. | 
Sometimes he is disappointed and gets nothing. It is 
a hard life, even if one makes a fortune. Don’t you 
think so? 



Copyright by Curtis Publishing Co. Published by permission from Ladies’ Home Journal. 

MILES CANON, NORTHWEST TERRITORY, ON THE WAY TO THE KLONDIKE. 
(Photograph by Y. Cleveland.) 


At Dawson City we overlook the waters. of the 
Yukon where the Klondike River joins it. The Yukon ! 
is now used for carrying freight, ore, and passengers, 
such as want to get back by way of the Pacific Ocean, ! 







A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 


51 



w 

X 







52 A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 

or who want to go still farther north. This river is 
the only means of travel from the interior to the 
Behring Sea coast, but it is too early in the season 
for boats to go on the river, on account of the ice. It 
will be June before trade opens up on the river. 

We have traveled on the only railroad in Alaska, 
and now we retrace our course to Skagway. From 
there we will continue our travels, but we must go by 
steamer, for that is the only way. The time will 
come when there will be more railroads through the 
country, but so many of Alaska's products are along 
the coast, that nearly everything is reached by steam 
boat travel. 

THE MUIR GLACIER. 

Southward and westward we go through Icy Strait 
to Glacier Bay. Let us trace our route on the map, 
and if we cannot find the name of the bay, we can 
find Mt. Fairweather, which overlooks it. 

During our voyage we had glimpses of glaciers 
several times, but now we are face to face with one. 
It is the most beautiful and wonderful glacier in the 
world. It is called the Muir, and is named after Prof. 
John Muir, who spent months on it, and afterwards 
wrote what he had learned about it. 

Our boat, with many bumps against the icebergs in 
the bay, sails quite close to the front of the glacier 
and w^ have a grand view of it. 

As we stand on the deck looking forward, we can 
hardly believe that so much ice is gathered in one 
place. 

A great wall of ice with broken front and jagged 
top faces us. We look up, and the peaks, reaching so 



A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


53 


high, seem like mountains. We turn our heads and 
see the white, glistening ice far away on either side. 
But this is not all. The captain tells us that it 
reaches down, down beneath the water six hundred 
feet. From him we learn also that the peaks are 
between three and four hundred feet high. A thou¬ 
sand feet from top to bottom, and over one mile wide! 

Listen! What is that terrible roaring noise? It 
sounds like a cannon. There goes a perfect mountain 
of ice, tumbling into the bay, from the front of the 
glacier. We understand now what the noise was. 



Copyright by Curtis Publishing Co. Published by courtesy of Ladies’ Home Journal. 

VIEW OF THE MUIR GLACIER. 

(Photograph by F. Jay Haynes & Bro.) 





54 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



the great waves. The spray is thrown above the 
masts, and all the sea about us is in a tumult. 


This huge chunk of ice, called an iceberg, plunges 
and rocks about, tossing our ship like an eggshell on 


CREVASSE IN A GLACIER. 









A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


55 


Gradually the iceberg becomes more quiet, and drifts 
away, out to the open sea. 

The continual breaking off of the immense blocks of 
ice, causes the front of the glacier to be always chang¬ 
ing. Sometimes you fancy you can see the turrets 
of castles. They glisten in the sun like precious 
gems. 

By taking a boat from our ship we can land and go 
to the top of this ice river. Railings and a plank walk 
have been put here to help tourists. But when we get 
to the top we must be very careful in walking about. 
Crevasses , which are gorges of unknown depth, are in 
unexpected places. 

We look about, and all we see is ice. Our guide 
informs us that the Muir glacier is about forty miles 
long, with nine large and seventeen smaller streams of 
ice uniting with it. 

We cannot see it move, but we know that it does. 
That has been proved by the driving of stakes. Scien¬ 
tists who have observed it carefully, say that it moves 
about seven feet each day. That seems very slow to us, 
but it is considered very fast traveling for a glacier. 

There are very few moraines on the Muir glacier. The 
moraines are the dirt, stones, and rubbish which the 
glacier shoves before it as it moves slowly along. One 
reason that this glacier is so beautiful is because it is a 
mass of almost pure, glistening, crystal ice. 

MT. ST. ELIAS. 

We leave the glacier behind us and start Westward. 
Our next stopping place is the large island of Kadiak, 
where we will find the greatest salmon fisheries in the 
world. Let us consult our map in the Little Journeys 


56 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA 



Copyright by Pillsbury & Cleveland. Publish'd by permission from Ladies' Home Journal. 

PANORAMIC VIEW FROM SUMMIT OF MOUNT JUNEAU. 






A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 57 

and get the location of this island lying close to the 
long, rocky peninsula of the southwest coast. 

We skirt the shore, and on our way for many miles 
we are in full view of towering Mt. St. Elias. You 
can see its location on the map just at the point 
where the great mass of Alaska joins the chain of 
islands to the southeast. Part of the mountain is in 
Alaska, and part in Canada. 

It stands there cold and lonely, covered with snow. 
There is a fearful stillness all about, except when an 
avalanche goes tearing down its side. Avalanches are 
very different from glaciers. Away up on the side, 
perhaps near the top of the mountain, the snow and 
ice become loose and start to slide. As they go 
they gather more snow, ice, loose stones, and even 
large rocks. The larger the mass, the faster it slides, 
breaking down trees and everything before it. The 
noise is like thunder and the very earth seems torn 
open. 

Moving quietly and slowfy down the sides of Mt. St. 
Elias, in great contrast to the avalanche, are glaciers, 
eleven in all. Some of these are to be seen from the 
deck of our ship. 

SALMON FISHING AT KADIAK. 

Here we are at Kadiak Island. Did you find it on 
your maps? We will go at once to the canneries. 

We are surprised to see Chinamen at work packing 
and sealing the cans. They are employed by the 
American companies who own the establishments, be¬ 
cause they work for such small wages. The Indians 
catch the fish and do the chores which require no 
skill. These Indians, which are Aleuts, and with 


58 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


whose habits we will soon become acquainted, can do 
far more difficult things than to can salmon. Later 
we shall see. 

What quantities of cans! Let us count them and 
see how many there are in a case. Four dozen. Let 
us ask the foreman how many cases they ship out in 
one season. He tells us that this cannery is only 
one of at least fifty in Alaska, and that altogether 
they ship out 700,000 cases each year. We remember 
how many cans in a case, and taking our pencils, we 
find that Alaska sends out 33,600,000 cans of salmon 
each year. This amount is shipped to all parts of the 
United States, and to some parts of Europe and Asia. 

When we get home, let us look on the cans at our 
grocer’s and see if our salmon comes from Alaska. 

The Indians tell us that the salmon does not come 
from the ocean, but from small rivers on the island. 

One small river about 
sixty feet wide fur¬ 
nishes this cannery with 
more than enough for 
its business. 

In the spring the 
salmon go up the river 
to deposit their eggs. 
They come in such 
droves that they fill 
the river so full as to 
almost dam it up. They 
are in such a hurry that they actually climb over each 
other, with their fins sticking out of the water. The 
natives haul them in, but there are such numbers that 



A SALMON CATCH. 











A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 59 

all cannot be used. In their crowding, thousands are 
pushed upon the shore, and lie there to decay. 

It surprises us to learn that in Alaska there are over 
one hundred varieties of fish. Among them are cod, 
halibut, herring, and smelt, but salmon leads all in 
numbers, and also as a money-making business for the 
people. 

Before our ship leaves, thousands of boxes are put 
aboard to be carried back to the United States, as we 
do not stop at the island on our return. 

The chief food of the inhabitants of this island is fish, 
especially salmon. We are treated to slices of deli¬ 
cious salmon steak, such as we could not find in our 
home markets. 


Copyright by Henry G. Bryant. From Ladies' Home Journal, by permission of publishers. 
ONE OP ALASKA’S MOST ELEVATED PEAKS—MOUNT ST. ELIAS. 








60 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


OFF FOR THE SEAL AND SEA OTTER ISLANDS. 

Do you remember that long arm of islands reaching 
into the Pacific ocean almost Qver to Asia? That is 
where we are going now, and in all Alaska we will 
meet nothing more interesting than the people and ani¬ 
mals of these islands. It will give us a better idea of 
their extent when we know that they, with the pen¬ 
insula, cover a distance of almost two thousand 
miles—a lonely, desolate region, having almost no 
trees, and many volcanoes. 

1 We remember the burning mountains of Mexico, and 
here in the far north are some of their brothers. 

Shishaldin rises directly from the sea to a height of 
nearly 9000 feet. It sends out a stream of white vapor 
constantly, but has thrown out no lava for many years, I 

Many of these islands are uninhabited except by the j; 
native animals and one man . This we think is very 
strange. It is told us by a fur trader on board our 
ship. He also tells us that when the fur companies j 
lease these various islands, they have to put a guard 
on each to protect their rights. They hire a native of i: 
a neighboring island, and he often spends a lifetime as ji 
guard on the island. He builds himself a hut and sees 
no one for months, and then only as a boat stops with j 
provisions, or some hunters hired by the company come 
to the island in pursuit of game or fish. What a lonely 
life! Think what it would be to be a hermit on a sol¬ 
itary island! 

The inhabitants of the Aleutian islands are called j 
Aleuts. They are a race of hunters. Shall we think 
of them as fierce? No more gentle people exist than this 
docile race of Indians. As we shall see them catching 






A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


61 


the sea otter and the seal, we are interested in the 
training the men must have to become expert hunters. 
They are naturally muscular and strong, but not very 
tall. The strength in their arms becomes wonderful, 
as they almost live in a canoe from boyhood. Think 
how they must manage their boats in the great ocean 
waves. They must be able to turn about in an instant, 
and go forward or backward at a moment’s notice. 

Exposure to all kinds of weather from infancy, makes 
them hardy. No watermen in the world can endure 
so much cold, and manage boats with such dexterity 
as they. 

Their stomachs must be accustomed to fasts, and 
to the severest hardships. They live much on cold 
food, which is often raw, for when they go to hunt the 
sea otter they can build no fire. The smell of fire, or 
of the food cooking would drive every otter from these 
islands. 

They are subjected to dangers to make them brave, 
for their life is often threatened in the capture of the 
animals. 

They must have tact. Do you know what that 
means? Well, they must have good sense and know 
how to use it, for the fur bearing animals are very 
shrewd, and cannot be secured by awkward, unskillful 
movements. 

. SEAL HUNTING. 

The Aleutians are the famous hunters of the seal. 
Let us go with them to their. hunting grounds, the 
Pribiloff Islands, a little group north of the long rocky 
peninsula in Behring Sea. 

The group consists of four islands. The two larger 




62 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


ones are St. Paul and St. George, and the two smaller 
ones are Otter and Walrus islands. St. Paul has a 
length of thirteen miles with a breadth of four, and St. 
George has a length of ten and a breadth of five miles. 

It is an interesting fact that four-fifths of the seal 
skins sold in all of the cities of the world, come from 
these small islands of Alaska. 

One thing which we must remember is that a dense 
fog envelops these islands of the north Pacific during 
the breeding season, which is the late spring or early 
summer. This is very favorable for the seals, as they 
are unable to bear the heat of the summer sun. Do 
you suppose that their heavy fur coats have anything 
to do with it? 

The seals come to the islands in great herds. They 
have long slender bodies, which taper towards the tail. 
Their small heads look like those of dogs with the ears 
cut off. They have large, soft, sad-looking eyes. The 
short, front limbs make the paws seem close to the 
bodies; the hind limbs are turned backward on each 
side of the tail. The paws are covered with skin 
stretched between the fingers. These they use as pad¬ 
dles, but the hind limbs are their chief dependence in 
swimming. They are very graceful in the water, and 
can stay under the water for twenty minutes at a time. 

Seals are very affectionate to their young, and care 
for them tenderly. When the baby seals are about six 
weeks old the mother takes them to the water to teach 
them to swim. They need much coaxing before they 
will venture in, but after they have tried the water 
they are very happy in it. When they get quite strong 
and are able to swim a long distance, they swim 



A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


63 


away with their mothers into the broad Pacific, no one 
knows where, for they are seldom seen except on these 
islands. 

We have read a great deal in the papers about the 
“seal fisheries’’ of Alaska, but there is no fishing in 
catching the seal. 

The seals come up on the islands and sit about on 
the rocks. The young males are apt to go farther back 
from the shore than the families. This is fortunate 
for the hunters, for it is the young males they are 
after. The “bachelors,” or those about four years old 
are preferred. 

The hunters creep in between the families and the 
young males and drive them farther inland. If they 
find one too young, he is given a gentle tap on the 
nose and is allowed to escape. As they are driven 
they move slowly, for they drag themselves along by 
their flippers. They can travel about a mile in one 
hour. 

When they arrive at the slaughter grounds, about 
twenty at one time are separated from the herd, which 
sometimes numbers between one and three thousand. 
Then the work of killing begins. A few men, with 
strong clubs, go about among them stunning them 
with a violent blow on the head. Some other men 
with sharp knives follow. With these they aim at the 
heart. Life ends instantly. It is a humane method. 
There is no blundering of the men, and no suffering of 
the animals. 

Another set of men follows. With the same skill, 
they cut the skin from the seal, leaving the head and 
flippers on the carcass. 




64 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 



KILLING SEALS. 


Then the wives and daughters of the sealers follow 
and cut out the great blubbers. As they carry them 
away it is impossible to keep the oil from dripping all 
about them. We may have some idea of the size of 
the carcass when we are told that the full grown male 
seals weigh between two and three hundred pounds, 
and measure six or seven feet in length. The females 
are about five feet in length and weigh about a 
hundred pounds. 

After the killing, the pelts are packed in salt and 
shipped to London in England. There they have the 
best process of curing and dyeing them. We under¬ 
stand now why -many ladies will not have a seal coat 
unless it has the London dye. They want the best. 

There are very strict laws against killing the 
females, and the fur companies are obliged to sign a 








A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 65 

contract with our government to take only a limited 
number of seals from the islands each season. This is 
because unscrupulous companies slaughtered them by 
the wholesale, and threw what they could not use 
into the sea, which nearly drove the seals from their 
favorite grounds. 

The last of July the fur companies send ships for 
their precious cargoes. Do you remember how we 
saw the furs packed away when we peeped into that 
ship in Seattle harbor? 

The ships cannot come up to the shores, owing to 
the shallowness of the water. The natives have to 
take loads of the skins in their canoes to the ship, 
which brings them to the United States, from whence 
they are sent to London. 

For their work of selecting, driving, killing, skin¬ 
ning and packing, the sealers receive forty cents per 
head. Though this may seem a small sum, many of 
the Aleuts earn from one to two thousand dollars each 
year. It seems to us that they should get quite rich, 
for they have few ways to spend their money. Their 
habits are simple, and their food consists mainly of a 
fish diet. 

The mission schools there must bring them much 
happiness, for they are naturally a very intelligent 
race. 

SEA LIONS. 

We should not think of sea lions as seals. They 
also resort to these islands, especially St. Paul's, so let 
us see where the difference lies. 

After the sealing season is over, the Aleuts go to 
capture the lions. 





66 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


When attacked the males are very fierce. They 
show their long teeth. Their roar is terrible. They 
are large, and in size may be compared to a horse. 

Although the males fight ferociously with each other, 
all are very fond of a frolic. We know how they sport 
on the rocks near San Francisco, and many are seen 
in public parks. 

They are driven inland the same as seals, but there 
is much more excitement in driving a herd of the lions. 
The men have to make a noise and yell and wave flags 
and fire off guns and pistols to keep the herd moving. 
The opening and shutting of umbrellas in their faces, 
has been an effective help. They drive them the entire 
length of the island before they are killed. This takes 
many days, as the old, fat ones get out of breath, and 
the hunters have to wait for them. 

When they are collected in an enclosure and realize 
that they are captives, their roar is terrific. The males 
are shot, as it is too dangerous to approach them, but 
the females are lanced. 

The natives hunt them for their own use. They eat 
the flesh and use some of the skin for boots. They 
also make skin boats of the hides. The intestines are 
dried and used for water proof clothing. 

Sea lions are covered with hair, not fur. It is of a 
reddish brown, about one and one half inches long. 

We have not yet seen the Aleut in his most daring 
undertaking. If we want to test his endurance, his 
skill, and his bravery, we must see him hunt the sea- 
otter. Let us not miss this wonderful opportunity. 

HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 

Again we take our maps to find Sannak Island. 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


67 


This is a favorite resort of the sea-otter. There is a 
great difference between the common otter and the sea- 
otter. The fur of the latter is as valuable as that of 
the seal. The pelts vary in price from sixty to one 
hundred and fifty dollars each. Exceptionally fine 
skins have brought from four hundred to six hundred 
dollars in the London markets. In China, mandarins 
of high rank wear sea-otter fur as a mark of their office. 

The sea-otter is much like a seal in appearance, ex¬ 
cept that the head is shaped somewhat like that of a 
cat. Its fur is short, thick, and of a rich ebony color. 
It is very beautiful. 

The father and mother sea-otter always stay near 
each other, and the mother gives her baby otter the 
tenderest care. If she sleeps, she does so with the 
baby clasped in her forearms. She often does this, 
















68 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


lying on her back in the water. She is frequently seen 
playing with her baby on the ice and in the water. 

Sea-otters are very watchful and difficult to capture. 
No people live on the island to which they come. 
That would drive them away. When the Aleuts go to 
hunt them, they simply camp on the island. They 
sleep under their boats, and, you remember, live on 
cold, uncooked food. 

Sannak Island in some places has a sandy beach, 
but in others is bordered by slippery boulders or 
big rocks. These are the play-grounds of the otters. 
The hunters do not find them here. They find them 
way out in the ocean, sometimes fifty miles from the 
shore. 

About ten to fifty of the natives form one hunting 
party. They go in their skin boats. There are always 
two in one boat. They have one man selected as their 
leader. They arrange their boats in a long line or pro¬ 
cession, and then separate. They keep in line, but 
are just as far apart as they can be to hear each other 
and see the signals. 

When one of them sees the head of an otter, he gives 
the signal, and then rows to the spot where he saw the 
head disappear. He holds his oars high in the air. 
This is a signal for the other hunters to surround him. 
They do this, forming a circle. In fifteen minutes the 
otter must come up for breath. The very minute he 
appears, a spear is thrown at him. If he is not struck, 
he dives again. He must soon come up to get air. By 
keeping this up he becomes tired and some one will be 
successful in spearing him. 

The spear is attached to a line. The hunter draws 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


69 


his prize to the boat, and strikes him a death blow 
with a small, but very heavy wooden club. 

Surely you wouldn’t like to be a sea-otter hunter, 
when you know what he does next. Lifting the ani¬ 
mal out of the water, he bites off the end of his black 
nose, and then stows him away in his canoe. This 
| ceremony is repeated each time. There is some super- 
; stitious idea connected with it. The hunters form in 
line again and go through the same process as in catch¬ 
ing their previous victim. 

When there is much seaweed floating about, the 
hunters spread nets upon the mass, and when the 
otters get on them for a frolic, they are captured. 

The life of the native 'hunter is full of danger during 
the entire season. But he is trained to it, and eniovs 
the life. 

The pelts of the sea-otter, like those of the seal, are 
shipped to London for the fine process of preparing 
them for garments. Sometimes a whole season will 
not furnish more than a thousand hides. Do you see 
how this makes a difference in their value? 

THE ESKIMO. 

l Many hundred miles north of the rocky Aleutian 
! Islands, lives another interesting race of natives who 
call themselves Innuits. We call them Eskimos. 

As a race they are strong, but not tall. Their faces 
are broad, and they always have a good natured look. 
In fact, they are a happy, contented’ people, and their 
appearance shows it. 

Their complexions border on the olive, probably on 
account of the continual use of oil, but their skins are 





70 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 














































A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


71 


very clear and soft. Doesn’t this rather surprise you, 
when you think of the severe weather to which they 
are exposed? 

One very noticeable thing is the size of their hands 
and feet. They are small and very shapely. This is 
true, not only among the women, but also among the 
men. Their delicately formed hands do not seem 
strong enough for their rude labors. Yet we know that 
they are, for the Eskimos accomplish a great deal of 
hard work. 

We might almost envy these simple natives their 
wealth of furs. But should we? What would they do 
for clothing in this cold, far-away country, if they 
could not make it from the skins of the wild animals? 
They think no more of their valuable furs than we do 
of our most common clothes. But it takes the greatest 
patience to make their clothing. 

After the animal is killed and skinned, the pelt is 
spread on the snow to dry. Then they scrape and 
scrape on the inside with a bone until they get every 
particle of flesh off. Then the stiff hide must be pulled 
and rubbed until it is pliable or soft, and feels like 
velvet. In the end the skins are in as good a condition 
as though they had been through a modern tannery. 

Now the hide is ready for the garment, and the 
women will sew them into comfortable suits. Where 
will they get the needles and thread? There are no 
stores where they can buy them, no factories where 
they are made. But they are self reliant. Do you 
know what that means? The next time the girls want 
a needle and some thread, let them try what it means. 

As they have no place to buy them, they must make 




72 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


both. Make needles? Yes, by scraping a bone until 
it is smooth and thin. One of the first things a little 
girl is taught is to make thread, for it takes a great 
deal for the mother to use in making the suits. They 
make the thread by twisting and braiding the sinews 
of the reindeer and the whale. We shall soon see how 
they get these animals. 

When skin, thread and needles are ready, the mother 
cuts the suit out with a big knife and sews the parts 
securely together. Her stitches are often so neat and 
regular that they seem made by machine. 

The boys’ and girls’ suits are much alike, except that 
the girls have scant little skirts to their dresses. Both 
have fur hoods. Their underclothing is a rather close 
fitting suit of skins made with the fur next to the body. 
The suit with the fur outside is made to wear as we 
wear our winter cloaks and coats. 



houses of Alaska 
are not made the 
same as those of 
his cousins, the 
Greenlanders. 
They have to de¬ 
pend mostly upon 
snow and ice. Our 
Eskimos, living 
near a coast that 
is often touched 
by ships, are more 
fortunate. 


The Eskimo 


those of 












A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


73 


From deserted camps, sometimes from wrecks, much 
driftwood comes to the Alaskan shores. The Eskimos 
very industriously gather this for their houses. These 
are made underground and are called huts. The men 
dig a hole in the ground about six feet deep. They 
stand the logs up around the sides to make the walls. 
Then they lay logs across the top even with the ground. 
Then they put stringers across and lay more logs on 
top, and cover it all with dirt and moss. They leave 
an opening about two feet square which they cover 
with the entrail of a walrus, which is caught in the sea. 
This lets in the light, and is the only window they 
have. It is always put in facing the south to get as 
much light as possible. Missionaries have taught 
them to put a little wooden spout in the roof to let 
the impure air escape. 

Can you guess where the door is? Look about fif¬ 
teen or twenty feet away. There seems to be a small 
square opening in the ground. And there is an Eskimo 
peeping out. Let us hurry to the spot and we may 
learn something interesting. He is standing on a short 
step ladder. He bids us come in, and we follow him 
through the trap door-way, down to a passage way, 
where we crawl on our hands and knees underground 
for about fifteen feet. This hallway is braced with 
quantities of whale ribs. 

When we get to the end of the passage way, through 
a smalf trap door we scramble into a room, which is 
their house. It is a space from ten to twelve feet 
square. 

At the farther end of the room is the bed, one for 
all of the family. It is a bench the whole length of 




74 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


the room. They sleep on deer skins, and have deer 
skins for their covering. The front of the bench is 
about two feet high and slopes to the wall. They 
sleep with their heads to the front and their feet 
against the wall. In the day time they use the bench 
as a place to sit. 

But the most curious things which we see are their 
stoves or lamps. They are usually of stone, slightly 
hollowed out to make a ridge. Around this ridge is 
placed a moss which they gather in the summer from 
a wild shrub. This is the wick. Then they hang a 
good sized piece of blubber above it, just far enough 
to melt slowly and keep the hollow stone supplied with 
oil. The moss which has been saturated with oil is 
lighted and they have a fine lamp and Stove combined. 
Often they have two in a hut. They never allow them 
to go out, night or day. 

Above the stoves is stretched a line. Upon this, 
boots, mittens and wet garments are hung to dry. 

Near the lamp is a wooden tub, above which on a 
rack is kept a cake of clean snow. This, slowly melt¬ 
ing and dripping into the tub, supplies them with 
fresh drinking water. 

The floors made of driftwood are kept well rubbed 
with dry skins. The Eskimos are very careful about 
wiping all of the snow from their shoes before entering 
the house. 

A visit to the Eskimo home would hardly $e com¬ 
plete without accepting of their hospitality and par¬ 
taking of a meal with them. Suppose we do have to 
sit on the floor and eat with our fingers. Haven’t we 
done that in the woods at home and called it jolly? 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


75 


We join the circle and the food is placed in the cen¬ 
tre. We have some fresh seal and whale meat. Close 
by stands a vessel of oil. Each takes a chunk of meat, 
dips it into the oil and sucks it. Many, instead of dip¬ 
ping in the meat, use their fingers. Someway our 
appetites do not seem very good. Well, never mind. 
Let us observe this jolly family at dinner. Such laugh¬ 
ing and chattering! It seems more like a party than 
a family meal. They joke each other, and keep up a 
perfect hubbub of talking and laughing until every 
morsel is eaten. 

We have found the home life of the Eskimo very 
interesting. Let us crawl and scramble out of his 
happy home and observe his out-of-door life. 

We find our Eskimo brothers with very industrious 
habits. 

Boat building probably keeps them the busiest of 


any of their duties, aside 
from hunting. The Esk¬ 
imo paddles about in a 



f most curious boat. It is 
i| called an oomiak. It is 
usually about thirty-five 
feet long, six feet wide 
in the middle and four 
feet deep, coming to a 
point at both ends. 




When the frame is made by lashing heavy timbers 
together, walrus or seal skins are stretched over it, 
pulled perfectly tight and sewed together. Scarcely a 
drop of water can get through the skins. 

Thirty or forty persons can ride in one of these, and 





76 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


walk about in them without any danger of their giving 
way. The skins give, when stepped upon, but rebound 
at once when the foot is lifted. 

The oomiak is used by the natives coasting about in 
the sea. 

For river travel they make a different boat called a 
kyak. This is much like the oomiak, except in the 
construction of the top. Instead of being open all over 
the top, it has only one or two openings called 
hatchways, just large enough for the body to slip 
through. An Eskimo can stow away a surprising 
amount in one. Sometimes a lonely Eskimo will pad¬ 
dle toward you and haul his boat upon the beach. 
Suddenly out from his covered boat will scramble a 
whole family, including the dog. 

THE ESKIMO DOGS. 

Dogs are of great service to the Eskimos in travel¬ 
ing over the snow and ice. They look upon their dogs 
as friends, and they are their companions. They are 
big, shaggy, black and white creatures, and can endure 
a great deal of cold, and go for a long time without j 
food. The Eskimos sometimes do not feed them for 
three days. They do this to harden them, so they can I 
make long trips without food. On their return from I 
a drive, the dogs are always well fed, generally with a ! 
fresh piece of walrus meat. When starting on a long 
journey their owner generally gives them a strip of 
walrus hide about a foot and a half long and an inch 
wide. This seems to give them enough strength to 
last for days. They are very strong and easily carry 
their burdens on the icy fields. From six to twenty 
dogs are harnessed to one sled. Sometimes they travel 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


77 


abreast, and sometimes in tandem fashion. Their har¬ 
ness is very simple and is made of straps of deer hide. 
They are driven without reins. The master carries a 
long whip, but he guides them mostly with his voice. 
They understand at once, and as they are trained from 
puppies, they are very obedient. 

The Eskimo boys are as skillful drivers as their 
fathers. When they are very young they are taught 
to harness the puppies to tiny sleds and drive them 
about near the house. When they are only boys their 
fathers allow them to harness up a whole team and 
drive alone to a neighboring Eskimo village. Their 
sleds are made of bone, and of driftwood when they 
can find it. When neither is at hand they make them 
out of blocks of ice. It must be great fun to ride on 
one of their ice sleds. 

THE REINDEER. 

A few years ago a ship in the north of Behring Sea, 
landed at an island which was inhabited by Eskimos. 
They were in a starving condition. They had been 
unfortunate in catching seal, walrus, whale or deer. 

On board of the ship was that kind, white man, Dr. 
Sheldon Jackson, of whom we heard among the mis- 
1 sionaries. He thought it was terrible for the Eskimos 
to starve, and all because the white men had been to 
the far north and hunted the animals until not enough 
were left for food for the natives. 

When he came back to the United States he talked 
so much about it that our government decided to send 
herds of reindeer to that part of Alaska near the island, 
and teach the Eskimos to raise them, and so provide 
themselves with an animal which would at any time 
furnish them with food and clothing. 








78 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


If we examine our maps, on the west coast of Alaska, 
a litttle south of Behring Strait, we will find the name 
of the first place to which the reindeer were brought. 
It is called Port Clarence. Now there are several 
large herds in various places, called “reindeer stations.” 

The first reindeer for these stations were brought 
from Siberia, and the government hired men to come 
with them to teach the Eskimos how to train and care ; 
for them. 

Later, the herds have been brought from Lapland, 
as that country has the best trained reindeer. 

The reindeer get their own food in quite a strange 
manner. They are turned out to graze on the snow 
fields, the same as in our country cattle are turned 
out to pasture. Does that seem strange to you 
and do you wonder what they find to eat? The 
ground is all covered with snow, but the reindeer 1 
know that underneath is delicious moss. They 
dig the snow up with their sharp hoofs, and find 
there the very food which they like best. There are 
acres and acres of this moss, or tundra as it is some¬ 
times called, growing in Alaska, and there is enough 
to feed many large herds without food becoming 
scarce. They graze in the daytime and at night are 
driven into a place surrounded by a high board fence, 
to protect them from wild animals. Each animal is 
branded, so if it strays, the owner may reclaim it. 
They have been called the horses, cows, and sheep of 
the Eskimo, and that is true, for he drives them in 
harness, milks them, and makes cloth of their hair. 

The deer is not burdened with a heavy harness. He 
has a skin collar around his neck. A single trace 



A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


79 


passes from this down between the legs to a hole in 
front of the sled. The driver uses but one rein, which 
is fastened to the horns. The rein is dropped either 
on one side of the back or the other to guide him right 
or left. Being harnessed in this way, a reindeer can 
far out-travel a horse. On level ground, twenty miles 
an hour is often traveled, and twelve or fifteen miles 
is a very easy distance to cover. In the most severe 
I winter weather they can travel all day without show¬ 
ing fatigue, and then find their own food under the 
snow. A story is told of a reindeer who once traveled 
eight hundred miles in forty-eight hours, to carry an 
officer with an important message. The poor deer 
dropped dead at the end of the journey, but the nec¬ 
essary mission was accomplished. 

The milk is rich and the little Eskimos are fond of it. 
The flesh is much prized, as it is tender and very 
juicy. Many white people who have eaten it think it 
delicious. The natives consider the marrow a great 
delicacy. The tongue and hams are dried and stored 
for winter, and sausage meat is preserved in the intes¬ 
tines. The fat is made into oil, with which the dried 
and frozen meats are eaten. The bones furnish them 
handles for tools, spoons, needles, and many other use¬ 
ful household articles, besides their simple weapons. 
What cannot be used in this way is burned as fuel. 
Cord and thread are made from the sinews. 

Both the males and females have branching horns, 
which they shed every year. These furnish the Es¬ 
kimo boys with great sport in playing the game “rein¬ 
deer hunting.” On the slope of a small hill they stick 
some antlers into the snow. Then they go to the top 






80 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


of the hill and coast down, carrying with them their 
bows and arrows or their spears. As they approach 
the antlers they make believe they see a real deer, and 
shoot or hurl their spears at thein. As they go flying 
down the hill, the boys often turn around to shoot 
after they have passed by, for the boy who knocks 
over the most antlers wins the game. As the game ; 
nears the end the boys get very excited and often fall 
off their sleds and roll over and over in their rush to 
beat the others. It is considered a great honor to 
knock over the last antler. They have a merry time 
in many ways, and now that the reindeer stations are ; 
established they will never again suffer from hunger. * 
our journey’s end. 

We have now finished the trip to our great and 
rich possession of the north. We have seen that it is 
a country abounding in mineral and animal products, 
and feel sure that our country did a wise thing to buy it. j 

We have enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The varied ! 
plant and animal life have been attractive. The min- 1 
eral wealth has astonished us. The people have in¬ 
terested us. 

The country will probably make rapid advances in 
the next few years. When we visit Alaska again we 
may be enabled to travel extensively by rail through 
many of the parts we could not visit. "There will be j 
more schools and churches, and we shall find the na- j 
lives engaged in all of the industries of our thriving 
country. 

We have been thinking so much of our own posses¬ 
sions for the past month, that we would better return 
and be a little more neighborly. We had a delightful 
visit to our southern neighbor, Mexico, and we will 
doubtless receive as cordial a welcome to our northern 
neighbor, Canada. As they are expecting us soon, let 
us return to Seattle and be ready for the promised visit. 





TEACHER’S SUPPLEMENT. 


A Little Journey to Alaska. 

The class, or travel club, has now completed the study of 
Alaska, and is ready for a review. In order to make this inter¬ 
esting, let the work be summed up in the form of an entertain¬ 
ment called— 

AN AFTERNOON OR EVENING IN ALASKA. 

For the afternoons abroad, given as geography reviews, or as 
a part of the Friday afternoon exercises, invitations may be 
written out by the pupils, or mimeographed or hectographed, 
and carried to friends and parents. 

If given as an evening entertainment and illustrated by 
stereopticon views, handbills may be printed and circulated, at 
least a week beforehand. The following form may be used:— 

SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT. 

A Trip to Alaska for Ten Cents. 

You are invited by the pupils of the-school (or 

the members of the Travel Class or Club) to spend an evening 
(or afternoon) in Alaska. 

The party starts promptly at 1:30 p. M. (or 8 p. m.) the- 

Those desiring to take this trip should secure tickets before the 
day of sailing, as the party is limited. Guides are furnished 
free. 

The proceeds of this entertainment are to be used in the pur¬ 
chase of a library and pictures for the school. 

81 






82 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


AN AFTERNOON IN ALASKA. 

PROGRAMME. 

1. Introduction. 

2. History of Alaska. 

3. Song: “Our Flag is There.” 

4. Recitation: “An Arctic Vision, ’ (in Supplement.) 

5. Recitation: “Alaska to Uncle Sam,” (in Supplement.) 

6. Recitation: “Northern Seas,” (in Supplement.) 

7. The Journey by Land. 

8. The Voyage by Sea. 

9. Sitka. 

10. The Thlinket Indians. 

11. Recitation: “Indians,” by pupil in costume (from 

Christmas in Many Lands ) 

12. Tableau: “Indians.” 

13. Song: “The Indian,” or the Indian Lullaby from Songs 

in Season. 

14. Child Life. 

15. Indian Schools. 

16. Juneau. 

17. Gold Mining. 

18. Glaciers and Icebergs. 

19. Salmon Fisheries. 

20. Song: “The Fishers,” Riverside Song Book. 

21. Aleutian Indians. 

22. Seal Fisheries. 

23. Animal Life. 

24. The Alaskan Indians. 

25. Tableau: “The Eskimos.” 

26. Song: “The Eskimo,” from Songs in Season. 

27. Recitation: “Eskimo,” from “Christmas in Other Lands,” 

by Lydia Avery Coonley. This should be recited by 
a pupil in costume. 

28. Recitation: “A Legend of the Northland,” by Phoebe 

Cary, or Eskimo story, “Why the Robin’s Breast is 
Red.” 

29. Whaling. 

30. Recitation: “Alaska,” (in Supplement.) 

31. Song: “America.” 

* Note. “Christmas in Many Lands” is published by A. Flanagan. Price, 25 cts. 
“Songs in Season,” A. Flanagan, Publisher. 


HOMES, PRODUCTS, COSTUMES. 


83 


ROOM DECORATION. 

Place upon the board in large letters the words, “Alaska, the 
Land of Gold and Glacier.” The words may be printed with 
white and yellow crayon. Crayon pictures of glaciers may also 
be drawn upon the black boards of one side of the room, and 
upon the other the forms of plant life visible to the tourist 
during a journey along the coast of Alaska in summer time. 

Natural history charts, showing the seal, bear, otter, reindeer, 
Eskimo dog, whale, salmon, beaver, sea lion, wolf, and other 
animals native to Alaska may be hung about the room. Borrow 
as many fur rugs as possible and place about the room, and 
articles such as caps, mittens, muffs, coats, and collars may be 
arranged in a booth fitted up as a “Furrier Shop.” In and 
about this booth hang the pictures of fur-bearing animals. 

A wigwam, or Indian house, may be constructed in one 
corner of the room by using poles, fur rugs and buffalo robes. 

Alaskan Eskimo houses, one a winter and the other a summer 
home, may be built on the sand table. 

Bone sleds may be made, and by using miniature dogs and 
reindeer the Alaskan mode of travel may be illustrated. Birch 
bark canoes may be used also. 

Dolls may be dressed to show the manner of dress of the 
Indian and Alaskan. 

Indian picture-writing may be shown upon the black board. 
Make collections of Indian relics, such as moccasins, snow shoes, 
arrow heads, bows, birch bark canoes, baskets, Indian blankets, 
totem poles, buffalo robes, deer heads, etc. 

In every neighborhood there is some one who has a collec¬ 
tion of this kind, and if requested by the teacher will willingly 
loan it for an occasion of this kind. 

There is sure to be some one article of interest relating to the 
subject in every household, and every pupil should be encour¬ 
aged to contribute to the collection, if possible. Those who 
have no relics at home may borrow from neighbors or relatives, 
and the very little people may make a collection of Indian 
pictures and sets of pictures. These are to be mounted or 
tacked up about the room. 




84 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


Arrange your relics on tables about the room, or hang and 
fasten them to the wall. A fish net or tennis net tacked to the 
sides of the room may be used for this purpose. The relics are 
easily tied to this or fastened to the meshes and, as tables and 
space are scarce at exhibits, this is the best arrangement. 

Upon the product table arrange specimens of gold ore, sul¬ 
phur, whale bone, bits of fur, cans of salmon and herring. 

A can of salmon, together with pictures showing the salmon 
fisheries and canneries, should be used on the table devoted to 
the salmon fisheries, and at the close of the exercises a bit of 
salmon may be served on paper dishes to pupils and visitors. 

Small envelopes and sheets of note paper may be made from 
birch bark paper, which may be bought in any city. The class 
artists may prepare a number of Indian letters by sketching 
Indian characters or picture-writing on the birch bark paper, 
and these may be placed in envelopes and sold for two or three 
pennies each by Indian girls. 

COSTUMES. 

Boys and girls dressed as Indians and Eskimos may act as 
ushers, may pose in tableaux, give songs and recitations, and 
preside at the table devoted to Indian and Eskimo relics and 
explain the uses of the articles on exhibition. 

ESKIMO GIRL. 

A suit of white canton flannel, consisting of coat, trousers, 
stockings and hood; the mittens are also made of white canton 
flannel; around the neck tie a little white fur boa, if it is possible 
to secure one. The face should be stained dark. The girls and 
boys dress much alike, and this suit would answer the purpose 
for a boy quite as well. If desired, a large fur cap may take the 
place of the jumper or hood. It should be drawn down well 
over the face and ears. If the canton flannel suit is too much 
trouble to make, wrap a white bear skin or rug around the child 
who is to take the part of an Eskimo boy or girl. 

The suit for Eskimo boy may be made similar to that of the 
Eskimo girl. 


HOMES, PRODUCTS, COSTUMES. 


85 


INDIAN GIRL. 

Make the waist of red calico with the neck cut round, and the 
sleeves not to reach below the elbow; a necklace of beads, 
bangles of shells; a wide bracelet of stiff paper covered with 
gilt paper, and other bright ornaments may be worn. The 
skirt or bath skirt may be made of leather-colored canton flan¬ 
nel; the decorations may be appliqued or painted upon the 
material in any manner that will result effectively. Red and 
black paint may be used to make the border, The skirt is not 
hemmed at the bottom, but is cut in narrow strips to form fringe, 
and fancy decorations added above it. A small blanket or wolf 
skin may hang from the shoulders, if desired, and a gaily beaded 
pouch suspended from the belt. Strings of beads (bright col¬ 
ored wooden beads used in the kindergarten will do) are hung 
about the hair, and the hair is also decorated with an eagle 
feather. Fancy stockings to represent leggings, beaded mocca¬ 
sins, a bow and arrows complete the costume. The face should 
be stained copper color. 

INDIAN BOY. 

Wear a loose shirt of buck-skin colored canton flannel, to be 
outside, with a belt of same or some bright color. A few bright 
beads sewed on the belt add to the effect. Do not hem the 
skirt, but make a fringe of the edge by slashing it to about three 
inches from the bottom edge. Sew a fringe down the sleeves 
also. Make the trousers long; cut strips of the flannel three 
inches wide and make a fringe by slashing to within half an 
inch of the edge, sew this fringe down each trouser leg. Wear 
beaded moccasins; if these are not to be had, make them from 
the canton flannel, Sew the seams with red yarn, and ornament 
with beads; for a head dress make a double band one and one- 
half inches wide of the bright material used for the belt. Be¬ 
tween the pieces sew turkey or chicken feathers, having the 
longest ones in front and the shorter ones in the back. Tie the 
band tightly about the head. Stain the face a copper color and 
make a few marks on the face with red crayon. The coat may 
be decorated with beads, and strings of beads may encircle the 
neck; a bow and arrow complete the costume. 




86 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


THE NORTHERN SEAS. 

1. Up! Up! Let ns a voyage take; 

Why sit we here at ease? 

Find us a vessel tight and snug, 

Bound for the northern seas. 

2. I long to see the northern lights, 

With their rushing splendors, fly 
Like living things with flaming wings 
Wide o’er the wondrous sky. 

3. I long to see those icebergs vast, 

With heads all crowned with snow, 
Whose green roots sleep in the awful deep, 
Two hundred fathoms low. 

4. I long to hear the thundering crash 

Of their terrific fall, 

And the echoes from a thousand cliffs 
Like lonely voices call. 

5. There shall we see the fierce white bear, 

The sleepy seals aground, 

And the spouting whales that to and fro 
Sail with a dreary sound. 

6. And while the unsetting sun shines on 

Through the still heaven’s deep blue, 
We’ll traverse the azure waves, the herds 
Of the dread sea-horse to view. 

7. We’ll pass the shores of solemn pine, 

Where wolves and black bears prowl; 
And away to the rocky isles of mist 
To rouse the northern fowl. 

8. Up there shall start ten thousand wings 

With a rustling, whistling din; 

Up shall the auk and fulmar start, 

All but the fat penguin. 


SELECTIONS. 


87 


9. Then softly, softly we will tread 
By inland streams, to see 
Where the pelican of the silent north 
Sits there all silently. 

—Mary Howett. 

ALASKA. 

1. “Land of gold! thy sisters greet thee, 

O’er the mountain and the main; 

See, they stretch the hand to greet thee, 

Youngest of our household train. 

2. W e mid storms of war were cradled 

Mid the shock of angry foes; 

Thou, with sudden, dreamlike splendor, 

Pallas-born in vigor rose. 

3. They of gold and they of iron, 

They who reap the bearded wheat, 

They who rear the snowy cotton, 

Pour their treasures at her feet. 

4. Children of our common country 

Strong in friendship let us stand, 

With united ardor earning 

Glory for our Mother Land.” 

Extract frcm “California,” by Lydia H. Sigourney. 

AN ARCTIC VISION. 

“Where the short-legged Eskimo 
Waddle in the ice and snow, 

And the playful polar bear 
Nips the hunter unaware; 

Where by day they track the ermine, 

And by night another vermin, 

Segment of the frigid zone, 

Where the temperature alone 
Warms on St. Elias’ cone: 

Polar dock, where nature slips 






88 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


From the ways her icy ships; 

Land of fox and deer and sable, 

Shore end of our western cable,— 

Let the stately polar bears 
Waltz around the pole in pairs, 

And the walrus in his glee, 

Bare his tusk of ivory; 

While the bold sea unicorn 
Calmly takes another horn; 

All ye polar skies reveal your 
Very rarest of parhelia; 

Trip it, all ye merry dancers, 

In the airiest of lancers. 

Slide, ye solemn glaciers, slide, 

One inch farther to the tide, 

Know you not what fate awaits you, 

Or to whom the future mates you? 

All ye ice bergs make salaam, 

You belong to Uncle Sam!” 

—Bret Harte. 

ALASKA TO UNCLE SAM. 

“Come next spring and count my treasures” 
And don’t stop at Glacier Bay 
Like the many high commissions 
You have started up this way. 

You will see my wooded mountains 
With their citadels of snow, 

Gleaming in the purple distance, 

Through pearl-hued alpine glow. 

Standing on my flower strewed hillsides 
Where my mighty rivers meet, 

Gazing o’er my verdant valleys, 

Stretching seaward from your feet, 

You will see the sunlit splendor 
Of my moonless midnight skies, 




SELECTIONS. 


89 


Gilded with the light supernal, 
Shining straight from Paradise. 

If you stay till hoary winter 
Has entombed the silent land, 
You will read celestial sermons, 
Written in the Master’s hand 
On the azure walls of heaven, 
Where Aurora’s tinted light 
Wierdly flits like summer lightning 
All the ghostly Arctic night. 


You will find a magic city 

On the shore of Behring Strait 
Which will be for you a station 
To unload your Arctic freight; 

Where the gold of Humboldt’s vision 
Has for countless ages lain, 

Watching for the hand of labor 
And the Saxon’s tireless brain. 

You shall have a good vacation 
Hunting for the great white bear 
And you’ll soon forget Manila 

And the troubles you’ve had there. 

For, as in the morn of nations, 

Every highway led to Rome, 

You and all your restless rivals 
Will be sailing straight to Nome. 

Extract from poem by Sam C. Dunham, in “Cape Nome and 
the Northern Placer Mines.” 



INDIAN CRADLE SONG. 


Anon. Mary S. Conrade. 



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1. Swing thee low,in thy cra-dle soft, Deep in the dusk-y wood; 

2 . The coyote howls on the prairie cold; The owlet hoots in the tree; 

3 . The father lies on thefragrant ground,Dreaming of hunt and fight; 


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Swing thee low and swing a - loft; Sleep as a pappoose should, 
The big moon shines on the lit - tie child, Slumbering peace-ful- ly, 

The pine leaves rustle with mournful sound, All thro' the solemn night, 


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Sleep as a pap-poose should; For safe in your lit - tie nest, 

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A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


93 


THE TRAVEL CLASS. 

Nothing in the study of geography is more interesting or 
helpful to pupils than the taking of imaginary journeys. It 
makes geography a live subject. 

Suggest that your pupils organize a Travel Club, and that 
some of the trips be personally conducted. 

Maps and a globe should be in constant use. The home 
should be the starting point. Railroad circulars, maps, and time 
cards for free distribution will be found valuable. Pupils should 
be taught how to use these maps and time cards. 

Give pupils a choice as to routes or roads over which they are 
to travel. Each pupil, however, should be able to give a reason 
for his preference for any particular road, and must know the 
number of miles and the time required for the journey. The 
road or route voted upon by the majority may then be decided 
upon, and preparations made for the trip. 

Find out the best time to go to each particular country, and 
the reason. What clothes it will be best to wear and to take 
with one. About how much money it will be necessary to spend 
on such a trip, and when and where this money should be 
changed into the coin or currency used in the country we expect 
to visit. 

A Guide may be appointed to obtain time-tables, maps, rail¬ 
road guides, the little books of travel, or other descriptions of 
routes and of the parts of the country that are to be visited. 
(Further suggestions in regard to these “helps” will be found 
elsewhere in this book.) 

The principal features of the country passed through may be 
described, if time permits; also the more important cities. Note 
the population, occupations, productions, together with anything 
of special interest or historical importance associated with the 
city or locality. 

The Guide takes charge of the class in the same way that a 
tourist guide would do. He escorts us from the home depot to 
the city, state, or country, pointing out the route on a map sus¬ 
pended before the class. 

Arriving at the city or country, the guide takes us to the 


94 


A LITTLE JOURNEY TO ALASKA. 


various points of interest, telling as much about each as he is 
able, and answering questions pupils may wish to ask. If the 
guide cannot answer all questions, the teacher or some other 
member of the party may. 

When the guide has finished with a topic or section, other 
members of the party may give items of interest concerning it. 

A different pupil may act as guide to each city or part of the, 
country visited, and each pupil should come to the class with a . 
list of questions about the places. 

Every pupil in the class may take some part, either as guide, 
or as the class artist, musician, librarian, historian, geographer, j 
geologist, botanist, zoologist, or man of letters. 

A Historian may tell us of the history of the country, and 
answer all questions of historical interest. 

A Geographer may tell of the location on the globe, of the j 
natural land formations of mountains, canons, prairies, rivers, j 
etc., and of the climate resulting from these. He should illus- I 
trate his remarks. 

A Geologist may assist, and show specimens of minerals and 
fossils, or pictures of these. 

A Botanist may tell us of native plants, useful or ornamental, : 
and show pictures of these, if possible. A Zoologist tells of the ! 
native animals, their habits and uses. 

The geographer, geologist, botanist and zoologist direct the ! 
work at the sand table, and assist in reproducing the country in 
miniature. 

The Merchants and Tradesmen tell us of the products for j 
which their country is noted, and show samples of as many as 1 
it is possible to secure. They also tell what they import, and 
why. 

A Librarian or Correspondent may visit the library for in¬ 
formation sought by the club. He must be able to give a list I 
of books of travel, and be ready to read or quote extracts refer¬ 
ring to the places visited on the tour. 

He or his assistant may also clip all articles of interest from 
papers, magazines, and other sources, and arrange these, as well 
as the articles secured by other pupils, in a scrapbook, devoted 
to each country. 






THE TRAVEL CLASS. 


95 


The Artist and his assistant may tell us about the famous 
artists and their works, if any. He may illustrate his remarks 
with pictures, if he can obtain or make them. 

The Club Artist may also place upon the board in colored 
crayons the flag, the coat of arms, and the national flower of the 
country. 

A Photographer may be appointed to provide or care for the 
photographs and pictures used in the class talks. The photo¬ 
graphs may often be borrowed from tourists or others. Pictures 
may be obtained from magazines, railroad pamphlets, the illus¬ 
trated papers, or from the Perry Pictures, and mounted on card¬ 
board or arranged by the artist in a scrap book with the name 
of the country on the cover. 

Another pupil may collect curiosities. Many families in each 
neighborhood will be able to contribute some curio. Pupils in 
other rooms in the building will be interested in collecting and 
loaning material for this little museum and picture gallery. 

Coins and stamps may be placed with this collection, Begin 
a stamp album, and collect the stamps of all the countries studied. 
The stamps of many countries show the heads of the rulers. 

The album should be kept on the reading table with the 
scrapbooks, in order that pupils may have access to it during 
their periods of leisure. 

Dolls may be dressed in the national costume, or to repre¬ 
sent historical personages. 

This form of construction work may be done outside of school 
hours by pupils under the direction of the historian and artist. 
The dolls, when dressed, may be made the centers of court, home, 
field or forest scenes arranged on the sand table- 

A Musician or musicians, may tell us of the characteristic 
music of the country, and of famous singers or composers. She 
may also sing or play the national song or air of the country, if 
there be one. 




Hub 



REFERENCE BOOKS. 

Alaska. Dali 

The Yukon.Schwatka 

Among the Alaskans.. Wright 

Journeys in Alaska...Seidmore 

Shores and Alps of Alaska..Karr 

Alaska.Jackson 

Along Alaska’s Great River.Schwatka 

From Fifth Avenue to Alaska.Pierrepont 

Alaska. Whymper 

A Trip to Alaska, (Seals, Otter.)..Wardman 

A Summer Journey to Alaska. Ballou 

Miriam Coffin, Describes Whaling and Sea Life.Hart 

The Frozen Pirate, Describes Polar Life . ..Russell 


The Children of the Cold, Life in the Arctic regions.. Schwatka 

25 
00 
25 


PICTURES. 


Seidmore’s Guide Book to Alaska.. ..$1 

Swineford’s Alaska.$1 

Alaska (American Book Co.). 


Geographical Notes in Alaska (Bulletin A.G.S. ’96, 28:117). 

Alaska (N. G. M., ’98:105-190, twelve articles.).. 

Mountaineering in Alaska (Bulletin A. G. S., ’96, 28:117). 
Life on a Yukon Trail, (National Geographical Magazine, 

’99, 10:377 and 457).. 

The Rescue of the Whalers (Harper’s Mon., June ’99, 99:3.) 
The Alaskan Boundary (National Geographical Magazine, 


A book which teachers will find a valuable aid in geography 
work and in the journeys is ‘‘America Photographed.” It is a 
portfolio of photographs of scenic and historic interest in United 
States, Alaska, Canada and Mexico, with descriptive text. The 
pictures are ten by twelve inches, a good size for both class 
work and Afternoons Abroad. 

Price of book, one dollar, prepaid. For sale by A. Flanagan 
Company. 

























Volume IV APRIL, 1901 No. 

Subscription $1,50 per Ye&f 

8 1 

§p5fg / TH1> fH2§B§ 

LAN BOOK 


I 

LITTLE/ JOURNEY 1 

• / ;:&} to....- ' I 

ALASKA 

If ARIAN M. GEORGE, Editor. # <* 

| * A. FLANAGAN CO., Publishers 

Issued Monthly, except July and August. 

Entered in Chicago Post Office as Second-Class Mail. 
















































Plan Bool 

Journeys .. 


For 1901 and 190, 



second two in another. The price is -50 cents list. For next year, begihii 
ning September, 1901/E.utopeaii countries will be vidted, and will be in thel 
order named, unless'it should be advisable to make some change in. regar<l| 
to time of the appearance of a given number. 





....LITTLE • : JOURNEYS- 


FRANCE f • I § k 

February, .4^6 


ENGLAND 

; ; rj t ' y&pikm.'bpf .-1901 

SCOTLAND 


i 


SPAIN and PORTUGAL | 

Mar.cbVl^-.^e 


October, 1901 



ITALY 


IRELAND and WALES 


A;prh, 1902; 


November, 1901 


AUSTRIA 


GERMANY 

, ;; .December, 1901 


2ffay, ; l9ft2 s 


I HOLLAND and BELGIUM SWITZERLAND' 

$5} January. 1902 I June, 1902 



The people of different races will be pictured as Been in their homes, o 
and in their daily occupations. Their personal appearance, dress, manner^ 
of living, customs and manners, will all be noted and. described in an inters 
esling way. Each issue will contain a full page map of the country * 
treated? also-its. flag in colors, and -.from thirty to forty illustrations. <| 

Price, 15 cents each, $1.50 for set of teAh / 


PUPILS’ EDITION, $1.00 


Per Set of Ten Numbers. 












wwtwwiiii Huimmii 



THE BSST LINE BETWEEN 

CHICAGO AND ST, PAUL 

ANO BETWEEN 

CHICAGO AND OMAHA 

i8 THE; 

Chicago, Milwaukee 8. : St. ■ Paul ffi 



. 




THE ROUTE OF 

THE PION E ER ^ UMlXgD ^^ 

.The famous train of the, world. ■' On -your way.to AltASXA see that 
one coupon o'? your ticket reads over the Ohicag-o, Milwaukee «$; 

St. Paul R'y. 

0600 miles of thoroughly equipped road in XlUnois, Iowa, Wis» 
eonsin, Mitmesofa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, and the 
upper peninsula of Michigan, 

F. A. MILLER, General Passenger Agent, CRICAG0, ILL. 






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